Hills that defy gravity: Explaining the viral (and weird) phenomenon

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

NEW YORK -- A strange phenomenon can be experienced on a hill in the small town of Middlesex, New York. The location on Newell Road has come to be known as “Spook Hill.”

At the peak of the road, just as the pavement appears to decline, a car stopped in neutral will roll backwards uphill.

Many believe it’s just an optical illusion or Earth’s magnetic forces at work. But, others think the cause could be more supernatural in nature. Stories tell of an old Native American burial ground near Spook Hill and that the spirits of those passed are pushing cars back up.

This phenomenon is not specific to just Middlesex. Gravity hills, also known as magnetic hills, can be found all over the world.

A gravity hill, often referred to as a mystery hill, is a spot in the road where the layout of surrounding land and landmarks creates an optical illusion, making a slight downhill slope appear to be an uphill slope.

Skeptics have put the hills to the test, using magnetic detectors and levels. All indications suggest the hills are just illusions.

Despite the solid proof, the mystery and history surrounding Spook Hill in Middlesex continues to draw attention from people around the world.